SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 5

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Cynthia Nava

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING NEW CRITERIA FOR PLACING STUDENT TEACHERS IN SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS.

     WHEREAS, teacher quality has been demonstrated to be the most significant school-related factor in improving student achievement; and

     WHEREAS, the student teaching field experience, in which a prospective teacher candidate gains practical experience under the supervision of a licensed teacher and a university professor, is an essential component of learning to teach and one that research has shown to be critical to the development of preservice teachers' pedagogical skills; and

     WHEREAS, to be licensed to teach in New Mexico, state law requires all candidates to successfully complete a post-secondary educational program that includes a mandatory student teaching component; and

     WHEREAS, currently, teacher preparation programs may place a student teacher with any licensed teacher in good standing with at least three years of experience in a school that is accredited by the public education department; and

     WHEREAS, student teachers require exemplary teachers to model the skills and strategies they will need to become effective, highly qualified teachers; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature, in establishing a three-tiered licensure system, has created a system for identifying a teacher's level of mastery; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature, in enacting the Assessment and Accountability Act, has established systems for identifying schools, classrooms and programs where instruction successfully addresses required content standards with benchmarks and performance standards;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the deans of teacher preparation programs at New Mexico post-secondary educational institutions be requested to determine the feasibility of establishing criteria for placing student teachers with classroom teachers holding a level three-A license; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the deans be requested to report the findings and recommendations of their study to the legislative education study committee by October 2006; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the legislative education study committee and the deans of the teacher preparation programs for appropriate distribution.

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